Rindge and Concord New Hampshire First Woman NH State Agency Director, Administrator, Speaker, Award Recipient: Abby Langdon (Alger) Wilder (1889-1978)

Posted on 18 March, 2021 by Janice Brown

She was born Abbie Langdon Alger on 18 May 1889 at New Orleans, Louisiana, the daughter of William E.Alger and his first wife, Lucille V. (DeLeon) Alger. Abby’s father was a Bostonian who was living out of the country. He eventually served 26 years in U.S. consular service at several Central American consulates at Puerto Cortez, Honduras; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Guatemala.

It seems that “Abby” attended schools in New Orleans, and possibly also in the Honduras. A later 1940 US Census document would show that she achieved 2 years of college, though which college she attended is unknown to me.  Another Abby Langdon Alger  (1850-1905) her namesake and aunt, was  a New England author, ethnologist and translator. Continue reading →

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A DEFENSE OF THE IRISH: What Has Been Accomplished By the Irish Race

Posted on 16 March, 2021 by Janice Brown

From the National Republican newspaper, Washington CD 24 Feb 1874, page 4; A DEFENCE OF THE IRISH. What Has Been Accomplished By The Irish Race

“A LIST OF DISTINGUISHED IRISHMEN–WHAT THE IRISH HAVE DONE FOR AMERICA–WHAT THEY DID FOR AMERICAN EDUCATION AND LIBERTY–A VALUABLE HISTORICAL ESSAY.
A Mrs. Hyatt was, until recently, the almoner of the Young Men’s Christian Association of Brooklyn. A few weeks ago Mrs. Hyatt wrote a letter to the lady who succeeded her, and who had supplied her with a young Irish girl as a house-servant through the office of the association, entreating that in the future “no Irish” be sent to her. Mrs. Hyatt wrote quite a long letter, in which she went into a disquisition of the Irish race in general, and denounced them in strong language. This letter of Mrs. Hyatt found its way into print, and has been taken up by a veteran journalist of New York, who is an enthusiast in his admiration of the Irish race, to which he is himself a bright and shining example. Continue reading →

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Manchester New Hampshire Legislator, Senator, Constitutional Convention and Democratic National Convention Delegate, First Woman Appointee to NH Liquor Commission: Marye (Walsh) Caron (1900-1991)

Posted on 14 March, 2021 by Janice Brown

She was born Mary Loretta Walsh, daughter of John J. & Catherine (Keene) Walsh on 2 March 1900 in Manchester New Hampshire.  Marye attended the local schools, and based on 1940 U.S. Census information, she completed two years of college.

She lived in Manchester most of her life–in 1937 residing at 27 Charleston Ave, and in 1941 at 171 Mast Road.  The first instance I could find of her name being listed as MARYE was in the 1941 Manchester (NH) City directory.  She died 23 June 1991 in Wilmington MA.

On 30 Aug 1920 in Manchester NH she married George H. Caron, son of Peter & Ezilda (Voulfant) Caron. In 1947 he was the manager of a NH State Liquor Store.   They had two children, Donald (born in 1924) and Patricia (born in 1926) .  She waited until both of her children were in their teens before beginning her political career. Continue reading →

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Lancaster and Hanover NH Philanthropist, Trustee, Civic and Social Leader: Sarah Maynard “Sally” (Drew) Hall 1876-1949

Posted on 11 March, 2021 by Janice Brown

Hall, Mrs. Sally Draw. “Commencement Honorary Degrees 1940’s.” Dartmouth College Photographic Files, 1947. Dartmouth Digital Library Program, collections.dartmouth.edu/archive/object/PhotoFiles/PhotoFiles-icon1647-0544-0000018. Colorized by Blog Editor.

She was born Sarah Maynard Drew, but preferred ‘Sally.’ The daughter of Irving Webster & Caroline M. (Merrill) Drew, Sally was born 18 Dec 1876 in Lancaster, Coos Co., NH. Her father was a noted lawyer and politician (a Democrat turned Republican).

Sally M. Drew attended St. Mary’s School for Girls at Concord and graduated from Radcliffe in 1901.   Sally M. Drew married on 1 July 1902 in Lancaster NH to Edward Kimball Hall, son of Charles P. & Lucia C. (Kimball) Hall. Edward K. Hall would become a president of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, work as a successful lawyer and during his lifetime was a well-known football player, rules writer, and enthusiast. Sally (Drew) Hall led a life of privilege, with enough money to enjoy a life of leisure. She chose instead to spend much of her time in civic involvements and causes, all while raising three children. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire First Lady, Civic Leader, First Woman Nominated to Executive Council: Margaret Walter (Clough) Martin Anderson (1890 -1979) of Bow and Concord

Posted on 8 March, 2021 by Janice Brown

Margaret W. Clough, circa 1915 when she married Nathaniel E. Martin. From The Granite Monthly magazine, July-Sep 1918. Internet Archive. Colorized by the blog editor.

She was born Margaret Walter Clough on 24 May 1890 in Bow New Hampshire posthumously to Walter H. “Warren” & Georgia (Colby) Clough and named after both of parents. Her father Walter Clough died suddenly in February of 1890, and her mother remarried in 1896 to Stephen P. Foster, a wheelwright who worked for Abbott & Downing carriage makers in Concord NH where they moved.

Young Margaret attended the local Concord grammar schools.  Based on the 1940 U.S. Census she also graduated from high school.  The 1910 U.S. Census of Concord shows she was out of school in that year, and working as a filing clerk in a “beet factory.” Continue reading →

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